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#13, Teda Dirks Conrad is the daughter of Richard "Dirk" Conrads and Ihmt (Emma) Frerichs.

Born 26 Jan 1841 in Moorhusen, Ostfriesland. Died 26 Mar 1929, Bruning, Thayer Co., NE.

The third of eight children, Teda came with her parents to America about 1847 when she was 16, and apparently settled initially in Peoria, IL and moving later to Woodford County, a few miles northeast of Peoria with her parents. According to family history she was baptized at Peoria before moving to Woodford County.

Teda married about 4 years later when she was 20. Over the next 27 years Teda gave birth to 10 children, 5 of whom (3 sons and 2 daughters) her in death.

Until 1877, she and her husband resided near Benson, Woodford Co., IL at which time they moved to Milford, Iroquois Co., IL where they lived near St. John's Lutheran Church.

Jonas Liste provides the following information about the church: "In February, 1875 settlers living northwest of Milford were warming themselves at the Schwer store. Their conversation, it is said, had to do with their need for a church and cemetery nearer their farms. So the seeds for the formation of St. John Lutheran Church at Schwer may have been sown. As far as can be known, the following individuals (and probably others) participated in the organization of the congregation in the Fall of 1875: Harm Schaumburg, William and Friederich Oberloh, Herman and Oitmann Schmidt, Harm Hoefling, Frerich Lucht, Reiner Reiners, Frederich Wessells, Fritz Franke, Fritz Doden and Gerd Ennen.

"These (early settlers from Ostfriesland) were accustomed to the marshlike soil of the corners of Milford and Ash Grove Townships. With that knowledge and with strong hands they dug the drainage ditches and laid the drain tile and provided for themselves and their families not only fertile acres, but a way of life somewhat unique among the pioneers and settlers of the area...

"Within the years before 1900, the congregation operated its own "German School" in its own building, joined the Iowa Synod of Lutheran Churches, built a parsonage and enjoyed the growth of more failies. Among the added families were names still among the membership: Duis, Van Hoveln, Wienrank, Ulitzsch, Buss, Caspers, Gruessing, Duitsmann, Schuen and Krueger..."

Teda continued to live there after the 1901 death of her husband, but in 1910 she moved to Bruning, NE to be nearer her son. She lived in a home just east of the present location of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bruning. The original home has since been replaced. Some of her older great grand-children remember receiving from her large sugar cookies from a lidded bowl on her dining room table.

Teda's obituary reports that she "was a true follower of Christ, and an active member in his Church. She was a faithful wife, a loving mother and a good neighbor. Two years ago (1927) Mrs. Casper suffered a slight stroke of paralysis, but she recovered speedily and completely. Again last winter she suffered through illness, but was well on the way to recovery when Tuesday, March 19, she had the misfortune of falling and breaking her hip-bone. Being informed that she might be confined to bed for a long time, she had but the one desire, that the Lord God might take her soon from this earth, being confident that the Savior had prepared for her a home above, and that by His grace she would be received in heaven. This wish was granted unto her. It pleased the Lord God to take her from this earth. She died peacefully and in the Faith on Tuesday, March 26, shortly before noon, just a week after the accident."

Teda passed away at the age of 88 years, 2 months. Funeral services were conducted on Friday, March 29, 1929 at 3 PM at the Lutheran Church, 2:40 PM from the house. Interment was in the church cemetery.

She married Garrelt Jacob Casper on 22 Oct 1860..